home caterers

Sure dining at restaurants is exciting but tracking professional home chefs has been my overriding passion for the past three decades.And I continue to do this in Mumbai and Chennai. Are you a professional home chef ? Do you conduct any foodie services out of home? Then what you are holding in your hands is an open invitation to be part of our next #whatshottastingsession and of the Times Food guide. All you need to do is send us details about your work and contact details instagram, twitter @rashmiudaysingh rashmiudaysingh2017@gmail.com

Please excuse me if I’m getting carried away. I can’t contain my excitement at discovering Mumbai’s talented home chefs. And this #Whatshottastingsession is organised specifically for our very own “Times Food guide 2017” which is being readied for going to press. On a rained out evening, we meet (fittingly enough) at the city’s landmark, iconic sixty year old Gaylord and the ever gracious AN Malhotra plays host to Mumbai’s most talented taste-magicians. I’m grateful to the ever helpful team at Gaylord and also to the home chefs who’ve come all the way from Thane, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Mira Road…Im so happy. Cant stop smiling.

Party time? How about a variety of sinful dessert dips like Cookie dough dip, Nutella Caramel Cheesecake dip and more ? .yum Golden Addictive hotseller (roasted almond n caramel popcorn clusters with a hint of salted caramel)? Amna Shehzad Furniturewala makes all this and more.

Through The Food Door | Thane | 9987090418

Mani Vinaik’s ‘Chocolaticious’ Brownies, boozy bakes and coloured ganache have a fan following. Try her decadent Cream Cheese Pound Cake. This expert at catering for kiddie parties; is also known for themed cupcakes and Lasagne.

This food delivery service by youngsters from the corporate world ( Alok Shah, Chirag Arya, Varun Ahuja and Anuj Bagri) serves it all… Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. Try the Biryani, Chicken Kalimiti and the range of Wow Paws.

Found. Home made and fabulous my favorite Mulgapudi Gunpowder, Sambar Powder, Rassam Powder and the softest idlis. A teacher, marathon runner and social entrepreneur,Geetha Shridhar has been featured in many cookery shows for her famed BisiBele Bhath.

I am rejoicing! I am celebrating! Chennai’s talented home chefs have this effect on me. Each time I visit Chennai and organise our #Whatshottasting session, I get blown away by the range of talent, by the sheer choice there is. Today, I write about two ends of the spectrum…from the deliciously healthy to the deliciously sweet.

HEALTHILY YOURS

Yes! Healthy can be tasty. Nutritious can be delicious. Handmade, natural, healthy, safe and tasty…that’s what Fouziya Kutty (a self-taught home chef) and husband Abdul Taher (an advertising professional) create and innovate. Pickles to jams…not only are they handmade, but also free from any kind of preservatives. They are also made from only the freshest and the best organic fruits and vegetables. To be sure only organic brown sugar and organic salt is used. And ofcourse, as they point our “ the secret to our jams & sauces being yummier, is the actual “content” of the main fruit”. For example, their strawberry Jam has an actual fresh fruit content of not less than “65” % and in their tomato sauce fresh tomato content is almost “80%”.

A winner right through…International tennis champion, turned Public Relations expert turned ace patisseur. Cindana Manickavel’s ‘Sugar Monkey’ has a huge following for it’s cakes, cupcakes, cookies and dessert jars. Why the name “SugarMonkey? “When I first started baking, my mother always said the kitchen looked like it had been ransacked by a monkey!” explains Cindana. But that’s where the monkey analogy ends, because Cindana specialises in sophisticated and elegant patisserie. For those looking for healthy options, Cindana also makes eggless and vegan cakes. Ofcourse, the super-indulgent whisky and rum and chocolate options are all there. But most of all, it’s the dessert jars which are magnetising attention. Not only are they unique and handy and easy to carry but deliciously creamy too. They make for Sweet finales too!

Would you like to featured in this column? What you are holding in your hands is an open invitation to do so. Be a part of our “Whats Hot Tasting session”. Mail details of your work, your signature dishes, a bit about your background and contact details. Contact me on instagram, twitter @rashmiudaysingh mail rashmiudaysingh2016@gmail.com,anjalisharma966@gmail.com

#Homebakers & #HomeCaterers, I am thrilled with the response! Here’s where you can taste the creations of some talented Home Bakers and Caterers in Delhi. Do share your experience in the comments below and I will try your favourites and recommendations soon. Should you want to be listed here, write to me on rashmiudaysingh2016@gmail.com along with your menu, contact details, pictures & social media handles.

I’m excited. My sweet hunt has begun! Research for The Times Food Guide 2017 has started, with my very first “whats hot Tasting session”.

Today, Mumbai’s most talented sweet-magicians gather together and display their creations (fittingly enough) amid the showcase of Europe’s finest timelessly elegant porcelain tableware and glassware. Not only does the dynamic Deepika Gehani marketing director of this German tableware brand (which has been enhancing dining experience for Indians,) host our session but also recommended many of the mompreneurs and home bakers who re serving up sweet surprises…from healthy to sinful, traditional to modern..

Believe it or not: the delicious brownies are made of sweet potato. The bubbly Roweena Bhatia of “Fatfree almost”blends innovation with food & health into flavorsome bespoke Brownies to Low fat Flavoured Hummus & Chocolate chutneys with a twist. 9920219993

NEENA MEHRA

Looking for eggless cakes and desserts? Check out the gifted Neena Mehra ‘s large repertoire of wedding cakes and birthday theme cakes and desserts.
The must trys are Signature light and delightful trifle pudding and the Indian firni. neena.mehra@hotmail.com

VARUN INAMDAR

The Prince of chocolates in India- Chef Varun Inamdar’s latest artisanal chocolate series “Barcode” is a masterpiece.. Themed ‘Incredible India’ it is in reverance to flavors from 29 glorious states of our country. Enjoy volume 1 for now. Ph 9619256293

ABHA MEHTA

How about making and decorating makebelive cupcakes? Kids aged 4-7 here it is “The cool chef box”. Abha of “PodSquad” has designed many a fun hands-on, range of learning programmes-in-a-box. Each is complemented with dynamic digital content. Ph. 9833124258

#Homebakers & #HomeCaterers, I am thrilled with the response! Here’s where you can taste the creations of some talented Home Bakers and Caterers in Mumbai. Do share your experience in the comments below and I will try your favourites and recommendations soon. Should you want to be listed here, write to me on rashmiudaysingh2016@gmail.com along with your menu, contact details, pictures & social media handles.

Joy of joys! My latest “Whats Hot tasting session” not only served up delicious surprises but an amazing range too. Home enterprises run by passionate foodies and look what they are upto. From anti-bacterial, anti-aging healthy fare to traditional, home made Muslim sweets.

Age old flowers, forgotten recipes, organic fruits and vegetables…you name it. Sonya Srinivasan grows them in her own organic farm (be it Avarampu flowers or modakathan) and makes the most delicious Anti -inflamatory anti bacterial, anti-aging chutneys, decoctions et al. We do a tasting of the tasty and wholesome Aragarkovil dosa of Black urad dal. Delightfully vibrant and flavorful chutneys and more. Plenty more. Dual grained atta with a little twist, wheat and oats spiced with dry ginger powder and a hint of fennel powder, wheat sprouted ragi powder with Jeera powder, azhagar kovil dosa batter made of whole Urad with skin and spiced and atta with powdered curry powder and corn flour too.

And all that wasn’t enough, Sonya grows and sells Indian pittu apple to Dragon fruit and avocado too. Ph. 944444-2662

Can home deliver too.

AZRA & SOBIAs SWEETS

KHANDANI SWEETS: SOBIA AND AZRA WITH AFZAL KHAN

I cant stop eating it. The purest and sweetest taste of the finest almonds in this “badam ke bhukath”.And to think that its made of only almond and sugar. Making these traditional Muslim sweets are Azra Zafar and her daughter in law Sobia Habibunissa. These traditional Muslim sweets are made during marriages. Making these sweets is a time consuming exercise and needs lot of hard work such as Ande ki piyousi (eggs ,khoya ,saffron and ghee ), badam ke loaz ( pure badam and khoya and saffron). And they also make the humble pumpkin into a delight in their kaddu ke loaz ( pumpkin khoya and saffron ) and dum ke puri ( puri stuffed with badam halwa and baked). When I request for the recipes I am told these are “fiercely guarded recipes, handed down over generations and cannot be shared with outsiders.” Atleast we can eat them, and that’s fabulous!

I have to place on record my thanks to the ever helpful, knowledgable Foodies who helped me taste my way through this tasting session. Brilliant Executive chef Jaffar Ali who has honed his skills over the years, showcases them brilliantly be it in the Connemara’s Oriental or the Chettinadu cuisine restaurants. Afzal Khan’s amazing knowledge and skills in food and beverage are well known. Infact it’s thanks to the everhelpful Ahmar Siddiqui, that we hold this whats hot tasting session at the Connemara hotel. Rakesh

Raghunathan, food entrepreneur, blogger and TV show host peppers the evening with his lively food comments and Anjali Sharma coordinates and puts it together. Thanks to all the participants and foodies our Tasting session turns out to be a truly “Whats hot” one!

Your attention please! Superb surprises ahead. Please take a look at the photograph Ive shot under the trees. What you can see are Chennai’s talented homebakers and caterers. What you cannot see are the interesting and delicious food they brought along. All this for our “Whats hot Tasting session”. I ‘ve flown down from Mumbai for this and each time I conduct this session, I get surprised. Pleasantly. With the variety and vivacity.

CHUTNEYS R US

Unusual flavors tango on my tastebuds as I taste Sonya Srinivasan’s Avarampu flowers and leaves, Modakathanet al made to forgotten recipes into healthful, anti inflamatory anti bacterial chutneys and preserves. Bursting with flavor and texture are Chef Jaffar Ali’s superb repertoire of Chettinadu chutneys. Hand pounded and made of the finest ingredients by

Mani Megaly and shanti from Kariakuddi, be it the superb Ginger mango, or the unusual beetroot and broccoli. I taste these again at a memorable Chettinad meal in the Raintree and cant wait to lay my hands on the recipes and share these with you. Infact it’s thanks to the everhelpful Ahmar Siddiqui, Afzal khan, Sanjukthaa Roy and ofcourse Chef Jaffar Ali that we hold this whats hot tasting session at the Connemara hotel.